~Chapter 89~
“One week, no more. Understood?”
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
The aide, looking miserable, hurried out.
Dietrich watched him leave, rubbing his forehead with a long sigh.
“…Sigh.”
It made sense; lately, his nerves had been on edge.
‘Do I really have to just keep watching Lady Ansie get tangled up with young master Gusto…?’
Even if she refused to accept the marriage and started divorce proceedings, it would take at least three years.
During that time, Laritte’s reputation would be torn apart.
Of course, Dietrich knew Laritte wasn’t that kind of person, and he didn’t care about those things.
But for Laritte herself, it would be a completely different story.
‘…I have to make sure Lady Ansie doesn’t get hurt, no matter what.’
But there seemed to be no solution.
So Dietrich’s mood grew sharper each day—
Until, unexpectedly, a clue landed in his lap.
And that clue came from…
The Regular Assembly of Nobles.
The heads of each registered noble house gathered to discuss state affairs.
In principle, any house head could attend.
But since many nobles stayed in their own territories, the number of attendees changed each time.
And today,
One person showed up for the first time in ages.
“Congratulations, Count Gusto!”
“Your second son is finally getting married, I hear?”
Dietrich, entering the meeting room with quick steps, suddenly stopped.
‘…That man?’
Count Gusto, grinning ear to ear, was surrounded by people offering congratulations.
Watching him, Dietrich felt—
“….”
—a strong urge to punch that smug face.
“I heard Lady Ansie and young master Gusto broke off their engagement, but I guess that was just a rumor.”
“Yes, who would have thought the marriage registration would go through so quietly?”
Dietrich felt his mood sink to rock bottom again.
No one in this meeting room cared about Laritte’s side at all.
“I never agreed to the marriage registration.”
He remembered those desperate eyes and trembling voice looking up at him.
Dietrich’s gaze grew icy as he thought of that moment.
Then—
“What’s the fun topic today?”
A cheerful voice rang out.
All the nobles quickly stood to greet the newcomer.
“Welcome, Chairman.”
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Ha ha, always the same faces!”
The Marquis of Bossejour, chairman of the assembly, smiled as he returned their greetings.
Soon, the Marquis looked toward Count Gusto.
“It’s been a while, Count Gusto.”
The marquis warmly extended a hand.
“Come to the capital more often. I might forget your face.”
“It’s an honor to have you notice me, Marquis.”
They shook hands cordially.
“You should visit my territory sometime, Marquis. I’ll treat you well.”
“I’ll look forward to it, ha ha!”
Dietrich watched, a question forming in his mind.
‘Were those two always this close?’
Until now, there had hardly been any connection between them.
Count Gusto was a powerful rural lord, while the Marquis was a central noble who always stayed in the capital.
Their political views and circles were totally different.
In fact, until now, they’d barely acknowledged each other.
“This time, you’re marrying into the Ansie family. Congratulations.”
“It’s nothing. Laritte’s a bit sensitive, but what can I do?”
Count Gusto shrugged, showing off.
“But I have to encourage the kids to get along. Gregory is gentle, so I think he’ll manage with Laritte.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Of course. Tsk, Laritte really needs to learn to be more obedient to her husband.”
He criticized Laritte as easily as breathing, while praising his own son.
“She’s grown arrogant as the Ansie heir.”
“….”
Dietrich felt his insides twist.
“My Gregory might be the second son, but he’s still part of the Gusto family.”
“Indeed.”
“I wanted to find him an even better match, but Gregory says he likes Laritte, so what can I do?”
Count Gusto kept grinning.
“No parent can win against their child, so I have to give in.”
Count Gusto’s self-praise went on and on.
“It seems everyone’s acting like the Gusto and Ansie marriage is already a done deal…”
Unable to hold back, Dietrich finally spoke in a chilly tone.
“Didn’t Lady Ansie say she never agreed to the engagement?”
The previously cheerful conversation stopped; both the Count and the Marquis turned in surprise.
“…Duke Claudius?”
Their faces were full of questions—
Why is the Duke taking Lady Ansie’s side?
But Dietrich kept going, coldly:
“If you talk about it like it’s a done deal before it’s settled, it could cause problems for both families.”
“Ah, well…”
The nobles glanced at Count Gusto.
Even though Dietrich had been polite, everyone knew Count Gusto was the one pushing the marriage.
So, what Dietrich said basically meant—
‘The Duke Claudius opposes the marriage between Gusto and Ansie?’
Dietrich was directly going against Count Gusto’s words.
“And calling Lady Ansie ‘sensitive’…”
Dietrich’s voice turned razor-sharp.
“She’s being forced into a marriage she never agreed to. Of course she’s working hard to stop it.”
He gave a cool, elegant smile.
“Am I wrong?”
“….”
“….”
A chilly silence fell.
The nobles just looked at each other, afraid to speak.
Then Dietrich noticed something odd.
‘Hmm?’
The Chairman, Marquis Bossejour, kept glancing around nervously—
As if he had something to hide…
“W-well, let’s just start the meeting.”
The Marquis quickly exchanged glances with Count Gusto and hurried to start the meeting.
The nobles all sat down like drenched sparrows.
‘This… something’s not right.’
Dietrich’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
After the regular meeting.
“How about dinner together?” Count Gusto asked Marquis Bossejour.
“….”
For a moment, the Marquis looked troubled.
But the look disappeared, replaced by a polite smile.
“Of course, how could I say no?”
So the two of them left together.
They went to an upscale restaurant, popular with nobles who wanted private conversations.
As soon as they entered the private room, Count Gusto’s face changed.
“So, when will it be sorted out?”
“Just wait a bit. You know things are tricky.”
“Do you know how much money I’ve spent…?!”
Count Gusto started to raise his voice, then coughed and continued.
“Just handle it as quickly as possible. Laritte is being so stubborn, she’s a huge headache.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Stop pushing me.”
“I’m not pushing…”
They argued for a while, both looking unhappy as they barely touched their food.
“I’ll be leaving first.”
“Go ahead.”
Count Gusto left first.
Left alone, Marquis Bossejour muttered through gritted teeth,
“Damn it, if only Raul hadn’t caused trouble…”
Just then, a waiter came in and politely asked,
“Would you like dessert?”
“No. Get out.”
The Marquis waved him off, puffing on a cigarette.
The restaurant was non-smoking, but he didn’t care.
For a moment, the waiter’s face showed faint annoyance.
“Have a pleasant evening.”
He bowed and left.
And then—
The waiter disappeared down the hall.
In a storage room at the end of the hallway,
A man leaning against the wall’s eyes gleamed.
“So, what did the Count and the Marquis say?”
“Well…”
